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Previous: Chapter 17.A:
A single Irish source?
Section 17
Ireland to 1851
Chapter 17.H
John Ramsay Brush
One of the few people carying the Brush name to appear in 'real' history books was John Ramsay Brush, an army surgeon of some renown. He was the (2nd ?) son of Oliver Brush and was born on 27 January 1817 in the East Indies, where his father was serving with the Army. The 1881 census gives his birthplace as Quinton, Madras which is in Southern India. Oliver's history appears in chapter 17.x ; he was part of a prominent Northern Ireland family. Previous editions of this section quesioned why the Ramsay name features as it did is unclear,since the maiden name of Oliver's wife was Skelton. It also appears in the name of one of the children of Henry Brush and Edwina Eliza Tayor - John Eastwood Ramsey Brush born 1866. The answer may be that it was a tribute in some way to Colonel John Ramsay, later to be General John Ramsay. AHB includes a note that "JRB brought up by [???] John Ramsay, as his parents died young and they had no issue. Mrs Ramsay was his aunt". Who the aunt was I have no idea - both sisters listed by AHB for Oliver are shown as having died young.
According to the 1886 & 1850 Army List John Ramsay Brush's first military appointment was on 8 June 1841. Apparently to the 26th Foot regiment - the Cameronians. The 1847 and 1850 Army Lists include a footnote saying that "Doctor Brush served with the 26th on he China expedition (Medal) and was present at the repulse of the night attack on Ningpo, at the attack and capture of Chapoo, Woosung, Shanghae, and Chin Kiang Foo, and at the landing before Nankin". At the time of the 1851 census he was a cornet in the 2nd (Royal North British) Regiment of Dragoons at the barracks in Canterbury (?name at the end of the list?). A cavalry regiment better known as the Scots Greys. The muster list for the period 1/1/1851 to 31/3/1851 also shows this but lists him as Assistant Surgeon with M.D> afer his name. The United Services magazine records an announcement from the War Office on 14th May 1852 that as a 'Staff Surgeon of the Second Class' he was to be Surgeon of the 93rd Foot - the Sutherland Highlanders. In the 1856 list the staff of the Medical department are listed separatly rather than within regiments. John Ramsey is again listed as a 'Surgeon of the Second Class' but the date opposite his name is given as 2 April 1852. This would appear to be the date of his promotion from Assistant Surgeon, whuch is supported by the 1854 Army List showing him still with the 93rd. Unusually, though not quite uniquely, the 1856 list does not identify his location. The 1858 list, showing him as 'Staff' rather than regimental, shows him as placed on half pay on 1 October 1856, along with many others. The notes of active service record, in addition to his China sevice, that he "Served throughout the Eastern campaign of 1854-55 with the 93rd Regiment and Scots Greys, including the affair of McKenzie's Farm, capture of Balaklava, battles of Balaklava, Inkerman, Tcherernya, siegge nad fallof Sebastopol (Medal witth three clasps, knight of the Legion of Honor andd Turkish Medal) The 1860 Army list shows him, in the foreign orders list, as a Staff Surgeon on half pay as being a Knight (5th Class) of the Legion of Honour He retired from the army on 16 August 1861 again according to the 1886 list.
The 1868 record of his half pay administered by Chelsea shows his rate as 13/6 - apparently his daily rate. Which seems high in comparison with most. The record includes Lt Cols on 11/-.John Ramsey married Anna Eliza DIXON on 19 May 1853 at St John the Evangalist church in Notting Hill, Middlesex.
They had 8 children:
Henry John R 1854
Oliver R 1858
Florence Agnes R 1860
Lionel Herbert R 1864
Constance Olivia R 1865
Ernest Augustus R 1866
George Hunter R 1867
William Hunter R 1871
John Ramsey died on 18 November 1891, aged 74, at Bristol. He was at the time living at 2 Eaton Villas, Duchess Road, Clifon, Bristol.
The children of John Ramsey Brush
The birth and death dates in this section are all taken (unless oterwise stated) from the AHB tree.
Henry John Ramsay born 12 November 1854, died 27 July 1868 age 13. He was buried at Locksbrook Cemetary at Bath on 28 July.
Oliver Ramsay, born 29/3/1858 in England but baptised at Caernaernovan in wales in 14 August 1858. followed his father into the army. He appears,age 18/19, in the 1877 Army list as the most junior sub-lietentant in the 1st Warwick Militia, commissioned on 26 May 1877. On 22 January 1879 he is promoeed to 2nd lieutenant and in the 1879 Army list he is serving with the 1st Battalion of the 1st Foot, the Royal Scots, who were stationed in Malta. Hs appointment is recorded in the London Gazette: Gentleman Cadet Oliver Ramsay Brush, from the Royal Military College, to be Second Lieutenant, vice E. A. H. Alderson, transferred to the 97th Foot. Dated 22nd January, 1879. In 1881 he is shown, in the record of his succesor, as being promoted. According to the 1892 list he was promoted to Captain on 1 March 1888, and it also shows he was in the Bechuanaland expedition of 1884-5, summarised in Wikipedia :
The Bechuanaland Expedition or Warren Expedition, of late 1884/1885, was a British military expedition to the Tswana country, to assert British sovereignty in the face of encroachments from Germany and the Transvaal, and to suppress the Boer states of Stellaland and Goshen.
In 1891 he is appointed, as a captain, in the 5th Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Scots. From the London Gazette: "Volunteer Corps...RIFLE.5th Volunteer Battalion, the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment), Captain Oliver Ramsay Brush, the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment), to be Adjutant, vice Captain C. H. Stisted, whose period of service has expired. Dated 26th September,1891."
In 1892 he marries Adelaide Scott.
The 1901 list shows him as retired. This apparently occured in 1898. The source for this date is an unusual one - the 2021 auction details of his copy of the Royal Scots Regimental records. It only fetched £25.
Leask, J.C. and H.M. McCance. The Regimental Records of the Royal Scots (The First or The Royal Regiment of Foot), 1st edition, Dublin, 1915, portrait frontispiece, colour and monochrome plates, light spotting, original blue calf gilt and red spine (faded), with owners stamp for 'O. Ramsay Brush' and the notes page at the rear is inscribed in ink with information relating to the uniform of 1878.
(Quantity: 1)
Captain Oliver Ramsay Brush was born in Torquay in 1858, he passed Military College in 1878 and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 1879 advancing to Captain in 1888, he served in the Bechuanaland Expedition between 1884-85, he retired from service in 1898.
In 1897, while still a captain in the Royal Scots, he took a 21 year lease of Beech Green farm at Withyham in Sussex. His address was given as Scotstown, Queensferry, Linlithgowshire.
At the 1901 census Oliver and Adelaide R. were living, with three servants at 'Whiteways' in Seale in Surrey. There were no children. She is listed as age 30 born in Ealing.
Adelaide died on 22 February 1928 in Switzerland as recorded in the register from the British consulate. Ramsay seems to have been adopted as part of their surname. Her name is given as Adelaide Ramsay Brush.
Oliver died in Swizerland in 1941.
Florence Agnes Ramsay born 23 December 1858, died 11 May 1935 "UM" - presumably unmarried. An FWB note says the birth date should be 1860. The death date, and her status as a spinser, is confirmed by the burial record at the Locksbrook Cemetary at Bath. Her age is given as 75. Her abode is stated as having been 5 Duchess Road, Clifton, Bath.
From Google street view in 2022
Lionel Herbert Ramsay born 22 January 1864, died 17 April 1869. Buried at Locksbrook Cemetary on 19 April 1869
Constance Olivia Ramsay, born 23 January 1865. From the Locksbrook cemetary record, where she was buried she died on 29 February 1932, a spinster. Her address was, like her sister Florence, 5 Duchess Road .
Ernest Augustus Ramsay born 11 July 1866, moved to the USA.
George Hunter R
born 2 October 1867, Bath, Somerset.
At 1881 in Gloucs
died 1952 Owatonna, Minnesota USA
William Hunter Ramsay born 4 December 1870 died 1 April 1932 according to Locksbrook burial record Again, te address was 5 Duchess Road.
Next: Chapter 17.B:
John in 1599?
Following: Chapter 17.C:
Other early Irish entries
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